Pee Smells Like Chicken Broth When Pregnant: Normal or Cause for Concern?

Pee Smells Like Chicken Broth When Pregnant: Is This Normal?

During pregnancy, women experience many changes in their bodies. One change that can seem unusual is urine that smells like chicken broth.

If you've noticed your pee smells a bit savory like chicken broth or soup while pregnant, you may be wondering what's causing this and if it's a concern. Here's a look at why this can happen and when it may indicate an issue needing medical attention.

Causes of Chicken Broth Smelling Urine in Pregnancy

There are a few reasons urine can take on a more savory or broth-like smell during pregnancy:

• Increased estrogen levels
• Enhanced sense of smell
• Urinary tract infection
• Gestational diabetes
• Phenylketonuria (PKU)

For most healthy pregnancies, a subtle chicken broth or savory urine odor is benign. But in some cases it could signal gestational diabetes or a UTI needing treatment.

Is This Smell Normal?

For the most part, urine that smells like chicken broth or soup when you're pregnant is nothing to worry about. The smell is often temporary and goes away after delivery.

Many pregnant women report this smell, especially in the first trimester. But bring it up with your doctor to be sure it's nothing of concern.

Causes Explained

Let's explore why urine can take on a more savory or broth-like smell during pregnancy.

Increased Estrogen

Pregnancy triggers a surge of hormones, including the estrogen progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This increase in estrogen levels can change how your urine smells.

Estrogen affects metabolites and nutritional intake during pregnancy, which influences odor. The hormones themselves also break down into compounds that affect smell.

Enhanced Sense of Smell

Along with nausea and food aversions, pregnant women commonly experience a heightened sense of smell. Your nose essentially becomes more sensitive to odors.

This hyperosmia makes regular urine smells seem more intense. Urine that may be only mildly brothy or savory smells much stronger.

Urinary Tract Infection

UTIs are more common during pregnancy due to hormone changes, a growing uterus, and increased fluid intake. The infection causes an imbalance of bacteria in the urinary tract and urethra.

A UTI can make urine take on a foul, almost rancid smell. There may be a subtle brothy note, but the odor is generally unpleasant with a UTI.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes affects how the body processes sugars. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels lead to excess sugar being expelled in urine.

This extra glucose can make urine smell sweet or almost like maple syrup. In some cases, it may have a yeasty, broth-like aroma.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

PKU is a rare genetic disorder where the body can't process the amino acid phenylalanine. The buildup of phenylalanine and its metabolites can make urine smell like broth or yeast.

Babies are screened for PKU at birth. But mild or atypical cases may go undetected, causing unusual urine odor during pregnancy in rare instances.

When to See a Doctor

Most of the time, urine that smells like chicken broth or soup during pregnancy isn't concerning. But there are situations where you should mention it to your doctor:

• The smell is very strong and foul
• You have other UTI symptoms like pain or burning
• You have UTI risk factors like diabetes or recurrent infections
• You have signs of gestational diabetes like fatigue or blurred vision
• The smell persists after pregnancy

While rare, an underlying condition like an infection, metabolic disorder, or malignancy could cause broth-like urine odor. Its always best to discuss any significant changes in urine smell with your obstetrician.

Diagnosing the Cause

If your doctor suspects your urine smell may be abnormal or concerning, they can run tests to pinpoint the cause.

Urinalysis

A simple urine dipstick test can check for signs of a UTI like nitrites, leukocyte esterase, and blood. Microscopic urinalysis further evaluates urine content.

Urine Culture

Lab culture of the urine allows identification of any bacterial growth. This confirms UTI diagnosis and identifies the type of bacteria causing infection.

Glucose Testing

Blood and urine glucose testing can diagnose gestational diabetes. High glucose levels would explain sweet/yeasty urine odor.

Phenylalanine Screen

A phenylalanine blood test can check for PKU. Elevated phenylalanine indicates the bodys inability to process this amino acid.

Cystoscopy

For persistent cases without a clear cause, cystoscopy examines the urethra and bladder for abnormalities. This helps identify potential bladder stones, tumors, or anatomical defects.

How to Prevent Urine Smell During Pregnancy

To help avoid unpleasant urine smells during pregnancy:

• Drink plenty of fluids like water to dilute urine.
• Stay hydrated and maintain appropriate weight gain.
• Consume cranberry products to prevent UTIs.
• Avoid strong-smelling foods like asparagus.
• Take showers instead of baths.
• Urinate frequently and when you feel the urge.
• Wipe front to back after using the toilet.
• Treat any infections promptly.

When the Smell Should Resolve

In most cases, urine that smells like chicken broth or soup during pregnancy will go away after giving birth. The smell is temporary and directly related to the hormonal and metabolic changes of pregnancy.

Make sure to mention the odor to your doctor so they can rule out any underlying problems. But in otherwise healthy pregnancies, the brothy urine smell is short-term.

The bothersome urine odor should resolve within a few weeks after delivery as your hormone levels normalize and sensation of smell returns to normal.

No Smell After Birth?

On rare occasions, a persistent broth-like urine odor after pregnancy may indicate an undiagnosed UTI, gestational diabetes progression, or metabolic disorder present before pregnancy.

See your doctor if the abnormal urine smell continues longer than 6 weeks after having your baby. Additional testing may be needed to check for pathology.

Discuss any concerns about lasting changes in urine odor with your healthcare provider to determine if follow-up care is recommended.

When to Take Next Steps

While usually harmless, urine that smells like chicken broth or soup could sometimes point to complications. Contact your doctor right away if you have:

• Fever, chills, pain, or cramping
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Symptoms of a kidney infection like back/side pain
• Dark, bloody, or foul-smelling urine
• Difficulty urinating
• Uncontrolled glucose levels

Prompt medical treatment is needed if you have any signs of kidney infection, severe UTI, diabetic ketoacidosis, or other dangerous conditions. Don't hesitate to call your doctor with any worrying symptoms.

While chicken broth pee often turns out to be benign, it's always better to be evaluated when something seems abnormal. This ensures both you and baby stay healthy.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.